Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year from the Coney Island History Project! Thanks to all who visited our exhibition center and joined us for History Day, Estuary Day and other special events this year. We'd like to say a special "thank you" to our volunteers, who generously donated their time and knowledge, and to our members and patrons who helped fund our free programming. Keep Coney Island in your heart this holiday season with a gift membership for family and friends.
Ring out the old and ring in the new on New Year's Eve in Coney Island, where the landmark Parachute Jump's 8000 LEDs will feature a digital burst of color at midnight, followed by the first fireworks show of 2017. This free, family-friendly event is Coney's third annual New Year's Eve Celebration presented by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, with support from New York City Council Member Mark Treyger, State Senator Diane Savino, Assemblymember Pamela Harris and the Alliance for Coney Island.
The Abe Stark Skating Rink, B&B Carousell, Deno's Wonder Wheel and Triotech XD VR Dark Ride and Thunderbolt roller coaster will be open and free of charge starting at 6:00 PM with free entertainment beginning at 9:00 PM at Steeplechase Plaza. "We want to keep the party going so we are opening once again on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day," said Dennis Vourderis, co-owner of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park. The 1920 landmark Wheel, which opened last year for the first time ever on New Year's, will open with its white stationary cars only, weather permitting.
New Year's Eve hours for free rides on the Wheel are 6:00-10:00 PM. On New Year's Day, the Wonder Wheel and the Tritech XD VR Dark Ride will be open 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, before, during and after the Polar Bear Swim, a fundraiser for Camp Sunshine. Tickets are $5.00 per ride. "Fifty percent of all ticket sales on New Year's Day will be donated to the Coney Island Polar Bear Club," said Vourderis. "We also look ahead to our 100th anniversary in 2020."
We look forward to seeing you at Coney Island History Project events next year. Our exhibition center will open for the 2017 season on Coney's official Opening Day, Palm Sunday, which is April 9th. In the meantime, we continue to record oral history interviews year round and offer weekend walking tours that include a private visit to the History Project exhibition center. During the winter, the 1-1/2 hour tours are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 PM by advance reservation only. Visit our online reservation site to purchase tickets for the tours or email for info on booking a group or school visit.
Add new comment